Sixteen years have passed and Maris is now sixteen years old.
…………………
Maris awoke to the sound of raindrops hammering against her window, the rhythmic pattern a stark contrast to the excitement swirling in her gut. Today was no ordinary day; it was her sixteenth birthday, a milestone that marked a bridge between childhood and young adulthood, but this year, the day felt heavy with unspoken omens.
She swung her legs over the side of her bed, feeling the cool wooden floor beneath her feet. As she stood, the storm outside intensified, winds howling like a banshee, sending a shiver through her. Maris brushed a hand through her tousled hair and glanced at the birthday crown of wildflowers resting on her dresser, a gift from her best friend, Kylie.
“Today is going to be amazing,” she murmur
